"Have courage," said his brother Felipe; "otherwise our race, our
almost royal race, must die extinct."
Suddenly Clara rose, the group that had formed about Juanito
separated, and the son, rebellious with good reason, saw before him
his old father standing erect, who said in solemn tones,--
"Juanito, I command you to obey."
The young count remained immovable. Then his father knelt at his feet.
Involuntarily Clara, Felipe, and Manuelo imitated his action. They all
stretched out their hands to him, who was to save the family from
extinction, and each seemed to echo the words of the father.
"My son, can it be that you would fail in Spanish energy and true
feeling? Will you leave me longer on my knees? Why do you consider
_your_ life, _your_ sufferings only? Is this my son?" he added,
turning to his wife.
"He consents!" cried the mother, in despair, seeing a motion of
Juanito's eyelids, the meaning of which was known to her alone.
Mariquita, the second daughter, was on her knees pressing her mother
in her feeble arms, and as she wept hot tears her little brother
scolded her.
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